This Valentine's Day post is dedicated to the great love of my life: Hong Kong. As I've told many a friend: every other place in the world I went to live in, it was for school or work. Hong Kong is the one place in the world where I decided I wanted to move to and then did what was necessary (e.g., find a job) that would allow me to do so.
Something else I've shared with many a friend is that I fell in love with Hong Kong via Hong Kong movies but, after moving to the Big Lychee, I got to loving Hong Kong even more by way of exploring the territory by hiking in its countryside as well as walking about in the city. And going on a hike was what I spent the afternoon of the 1st day of Chinese New Year.
More specifically, I went back along the High Junk Peak Country Trail with a friend in on what was a close to perfect day weather-wise: i.e., the sun was shining, the sky bright blue, the temperatures temperate (sweatshirt needed in the shade; t-shirt okay enough in the sunshine), and the air refreshing. And, as the following photos should show, the day also was blessed with beautifully high visibility... :)
to at some point: the Ninepin Island Group
there's a section in the middle where one walks down
several meters before ascending to higher ground again!
every once in a while to look back and drink in the views :)
(and include sightings of Tung Lung Chau)!
freak me out more than ascents), I'd visit Tin Ha Shan more often! ;S
27 comments:
Hi There,
I walked that route quite a few years ago, but in the referse order. I started late in the afternoon and had a side trip to the peak of Tin Ha Shan. looking fon an old beacon ef Chinese Imperial forces.
There are sections of tde route that had been Spider territories. Had had a few 'Face' encounters of webs. I was about half way through when it was getting dark. Ii was pitch dark in the woods before even reaching Mang Kung Uk.
T
Hi T --
Until this most recent hike along the High Junk Peak Country Trail, I had never seen anyone go along the route in reverse order. Also, this time around, the plateau was more overgrown than I had previously seen it. So would think that old beacon -- did you find it? -- would be hard(er) to spot these days!
Funnily enough though, this area's never been spider territory for me. Not like sections of Lantau, Lamma and other parts of Hong Kong, for sure!
Hi There,
Last time I actually started at Tai Au Mun and walked to Po Toi O (the Clear Water Bay Country Club Entrance) before turning right to follow the track.
The supposed ancient beacon is actually around the area of the Trigonomatrical Station at the peak of Tin Ha Shan. What I saw was just a pile of rocks, partially under the Trigonomatrical Station. (https://gwulo.com/node/11440)
I have visited one other such beacons at Shek Lung Kun, just a bit off the Yuen Chuen Ancient Trail. That one had been preserved well, except a small tree was growing from the pit in the middle of it. Don't know how the root of that tree is doing to the beacon now.
The beacon at Shek Lung Kun has a pit for burning firewood, with an air channel on the side. (https://gwulo.com/node/16088)
Both sites had not been verified by historians though. The one in Tin Ha Shan was mentioned in ancient local gazzets (新安縣志 https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%89%E7%B8%A3%E5%BF%97). There are others beacons mentioned as well. Some in Shenzhen had been confirmed by local historians.
T
T
Hi again T --
Your interests in ancient monuments is really evident! I know you're a fan of the Gwulo website. Are you also familiar with the explorations and findings of OldChinaBland over on Twitter? :)
Hi There,
I do not use Tweeter. However after reading https://twtext.com/article/1250019730561228801 , I guess this user may be a fellow participant at Gwulo.com
T
Hi once more T --
I don't have a Twitter account but regularly check several of them (including Tripperhead, who provides great, up-to-date info re the Wuhan coronavirus in Hong Kong). I occasionally look at Gwulo.com but don't do so as much as you, I'm sure! :)
Hi There,
I seldom follow any tweeter\reddit embedded links out there. Maybe only if those courld arouse my curisity. Anyway...
Found this youtube clip with a little bit coverage of Tin Ha Shan. At atound 8 minute 20 seconds there is a brief appearance of the trigonomatrical station of Tin Ha Shan, atop a pile of rocks. I may have to go back there on a sunny day to have a closer look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlnQen-2d50
Reading through the Dune books in the past few months. Likely I have to reread them in the near future. Don't know when will the new film be launch locally.
T
Hi once again T --
Thanks for the Youtube video link. Seem to be a lot of Hong Kong hiking videos up on Youtube these days!
As for Dune: I've neither read the books nor watched the film adaptation. Not my cup of tea! :D
Hi There,
I found Herbert's writing is very very good. Not just for Dune's story lines. He actually adapted many Middle East\Muslum and other human elements into it. I tried to read the Dune books it a bit more then 30 years ago, I gave up and read The Lord of the Rings series instead. But when I try to read it again a few months ago, I couldn't stop.
The previous movie adaption I remember I watched it in TVB Pearl back then. I didn't understand anything about it back then, but hey, my English aural was limited then. There was a TV mini-series adaptoration in the early 2000s just the time when I was back in town from Sunshine State. I believe I have not watched that through yet.
Despite he made up many things, many of his quips still appropriate after all these years under today's troubled times (even appropriate to local situation. Totalitarian regime and its puppets, anyone?).
Anyway, more to read.
T
Hi There,
Despite the light polluted night sky I manage to some constallations and stars last night in the garden close by. I had not seen Orion constallationfor years. First time to see the Orion Nebula through a 7X50 binocular too.
Actually it is not much to see. Just a smear of light dots even with a binocular, but it is a start. Now I wish there would be a power blackout sometime in Ap Lei Chau.......
T
Hi again T --
I'm glad you got much out of Herbert's writings later in life. To be honest, I'm not much of a sci fi/fantasy fan. Have never read "Lord of the Rings" or seen its movie adaptations either!
Haha re your wish to have a power blackout sometime in Ap Lei Chau! I find it ironic that even while it's hard to see stars in Hong Kong, I've found myself appreciating how beautiful the (full) moon can be more in Hong Kong than many other places I've lived! :)
Hi There,
It will be a full moon in a few days. I will take my binoculars\telescope for viewing.
If the Lord of the Ring series is concerned, reading them improved my English quite a bit. I still reread them from time to time.
T
Hi T --
Hope the rain didn't spoil your full moon viewing!
Hi There,
The rain did not do it. It was the overcast that stole the fun. The sky isn't looking good tonight too thus I am compensating with a forgotten bottle of The Abyss 2018 Reserve from Deschutes Brewery. I really forgot when and where did I buy it. First time to encounter a bottled of vintage ale sealed with black wax.
https://oct.co/essays/deschutes-abyss-2018-reserve-review
The nose is bright. Very good even after a few years. It is among the best Imperial Stout I had ever tasted. It was aged in new Oregon oak barrels.
T
Hi again T --
Where did you get that imperial stout? American craft beers are hard to come by these days (including my favorite Old Rasputin Imperial Stout from North Coast). I've been told that the pandemic has really brought down production at many of American microbreweries.
Hi there,
I think I have bought it in 2019, but could not remember where and exactly when. May have bought it in Yata Supermarket. Could not recall how much as well. But vintage ales are usually at least over a hundred.
Checked and found the Bottle Shop in Sai Kung seem to have the 2016 vintage. But it is EXPENSIVE. https://www.thebottleshop.hk/aging-deschutes-abyss-2016-imperial-stout.html It would set you back $398.- But at that price, I am very curious....... May go there next weekend and have a look.
Oh, I still have a 750 ml bottle of Chimay Blue 2017 vintage in the fridge. :-P
T
Hi There,
Checked again and they have three entries. Vintage 2016 in Brandy barrel, vintage 2015 and another vintage 2016 in other barrels. All $398.-
T
Hi once more T --
$398 for a bottle of BEER! OMG... that's more expensive than for, say, a 720ml bottle of Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo! I'm sorry but I don't think I can justify paying more for a beer than good junmai daiginjo sake!
Hi There,
They are expensive even for a 620 ml\22 ounce bottle. Some vintage at the brewery are listed at USD55.- a bottle. I think my consumed bottle of 2018 vintage may not be as expensive as $398 (younger vintage), but I estimate it to be something around HKD200.- when I bought it. Probably want to find out why it costs so much back then.
https://shop.deschutesbrewery.com/categories.aspx?Keyword=abyss
Anyway, The Abyss from Deschutes appeared to be well known from reading reviews out there. Some reviewers in the States appeared to be hoarding them.
T
Hi There,
I walked around Admalrity\Wanchai area after work earlier. Good beers are usually out of stock in GREAT Food Hall, or other small bottle shops in the area. ParkNShop still have various Codeo & Hitachino bottles, but no Imperial Stout anywhere. Likely owing to their own responsive product and\or logistical issues.
Some local breweries may have stouts around but most of them are not to my kind of tastes. The one I like 'Sevens' from Kowloon Brewery is also out of stock. It is not imperial Stout, but good enough for a local brew.
T
Hi T --
Have you been to HK Brewcraft over on Cochrane Street? That's where I usually got my bottles of North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. They have not stocked it for months though. So I tried the Fullers Imperial Stout they had and found it good enough to have gone back to get some more at least once! ;)
Hi There,
No, I have never been to Brewcraft before. They are not a street level shop thus I may not be aware of them at all. From their site they seem to have three entires of The Abyss starting from $300.- I think I have seen a business sign about someone selling alcoholic drinks upstairs before but uncertain if it is them.
Maybe I will go and have a look. My last purchase of Old Rasputin was from a bottle shop in the Mirador some time early last year. They also ahve a store on High Street. Might as well check them out this weekend.
Thanks for the tip. GRATE Food Hall used to stock up Old Rasputin before, but they ran out in mid-2020.
T
Hi again --
Yep re HK Brewcraft not being a street level store. Their address:-
4/F, 15 Cochrane St, Central.
Hi there,
Found this online. I am tempted to try this out: https://craftissimo.hk/product/de-molen-rasputin/
This one is in Sheung Wan, in the Tai Ping Shan area, right under Blake Garden. I will check it out next time I am in the area.
T
Hi once again T --
That does look intriguing. I've had good experiences with Dutch craft beers in Amsterdam! :)
Hi There,
The tasting notes of the Dutch version "lots of chocolate and coffee notes accompanied by plums" is more or less the same as the US North Coast version. That really looks promising. The AVB for the dutch version is 10.4%. Not too much a concern as I'm primarily a grape wine person. Hmmmm, the Abyss 2018 I consumed earlier was 11% AVB. I didn't even feel its alcohol as it was soooooooo smooth. But I guess it was close to HKD200.0 when I bought it in 2019......
I guess I have to try this sooner or later, as well as the Abyss 2015 (despite the price tag).
T
Hi once more T --
Better drink imperial stout while the temperature's still on the cool side! :D
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